FIELD SCENE AT HASTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 692, 17 December 1909, Page 10

FIELD SCENE AT HASTINGS.

- Uliram'a'rmo' sties,'a soft 'middle 'distance of .greens and,browns, a dark backing of, deeply blue mountains, - some men, sotoo chemicals, and, well—tho "Hawko's Bay Herald" sketches >hp\rest of;thei, picture rather prettily! "Tho paddock is a; good'- twelve acres, perItectly.level, and the light green of the,potato I haulms..is. diversified by the lavondor blossoms, for, tlio'-erop has'-just reached that stage. Two breadths, of the'plants have a'bluish tinge, aaajM'sooaliMHKat the two.vehiclos-a dray and a spring; cart—which move spasmodically along tho rows,. with, men in attendance, are responsible f0r.,,-this vohango in appearance, ineyaro used 'by tho:spraying gangs. And near; nn artesian pipe-well the dispenser and ins assistant hayo; their headquarters, with supplies of-bluestone and lime,- a number of kerosono tins 1 in jpltich water is boiled, and-a huge- cask .in. which tho spraying 'mixture is prepared., . - . -~ -. - -.."The last; jot "for tho day'tas been com-.pounded,-.and we converse with the 'wholesato -chemists':as;they endeavour, with tho aid of soft soap and lemon, juice, to reduce the purple stain on ; ,their hands. 'Nothing like lemon for .it,.isays ono of;our friends, -as'he .vigorously rubs /his /fingers with . a slice of \ tho pulpy fruit;.'..- ~- ' , '■:..,. V "Each of tho-sprayers' carts has another to run-, between, arid the 'open-air pharmacy,' for its supply .-.-of. the liquid that is;to save tho potatoes from the deadly b1ight.,;,:.,:,::,./;::«.-; : .- v ; .-• ._ ':■-..- ■ /'Three' men form a spraying gang. V. One man stands m the cart and works tho puiop,,while the two .others use tho nozzles. Tho pump has a :. b'gh-..pressure, and the operating of it is hard work, It forces, tlio liquid through the nozzles;in a/fine, searching shower,-and tho holders.of -the hese, take carp that tho haulms are iwll.soaked. :: ■:;... '..••.:-...:•- •/"It is;obvious that,, to allow, this to be:done, tho ;horso-; must ■■ move'-' ,only -a' few yards' at a time.. The animal co-operates withthe" human beings of:.the. party, and'promptly obeys the ■cry of ; the pumper to 'Get up!'.or 'Whoa!' as occasion'demands, This is the-second time the Mi, "as rbcenvsprajed.- ' Part".of/it,:.'indeed, has been' thrice,so: treated. . Here., then, is' one explanation; for - : the price, of'potatoes!. Thereis nothing in' the:surroundings to suggest the' imminence of disease. In fact, an impression of absolute healthfulness is conveyed by the sky.-.the pastures, the trees. •-. It- is atypical Hastings scene. .-■:■;■■■'■-.■ , ■ ;..,-... . :, *. ... /'"But to-day•■;there is -unbroken sunshine; -Two: or three, days back there was warm rain: There may bo: a recurrence of conditions conducive to. the.spread of blight;- So the manager- expedites the spraying..-.- It is better to be sure than sorry.": , .-, . , ."-."■.